Key Stage 3

The KS3 English curriculum at Bishop Luffa is varied, challenging, and centred on creativity. From Year 7 onwards pupils are encouraged to become confident speakers, effective writers, and enthusiastic readers. Pupils in year 7 develop their literacy through studying Autobiography, The Class Novel, and an Introduction to Poetry. Year 8 pupils are encouraged to think critically about the world around them in their study of The Media, An Introduction to Shakespeare, and War Fiction. Year 9 topics provide both continuity and progression for pupils, including extended reading and Romeo and Juliet, which foster independent learning and connections with GCSE. Throughout KS3, there is a rich extra-curricular culture of reading and writing in which pupils are encouraged to participate, including the popular writing magazine Written Life, as well as public speaking and poetry competitions.

Key Stage 4

At KS4, pupils will study for two GCSE’s: English Language and English Literature. Both of these courses are designed to develop independent, creative thinking skills and the confident use of the English language, as well as encourage a lifelong love of reading. Pupils are assessed through a combination of controlled assessment and terminal examination. For English Language, pupils will investigate spoken language, which encourages them to think about how language use changes in different contexts. They will study a modern novel and in the exam explore and produce non-fiction texts. They will also be assessed in their speaking and listening skills. For English Literature, pupils will study a Shakespeare play and a classic text from the English Literary Heritage, as well as study poetry, both seen and unseen, and read a modern play. There are opportunities throughout the two-year course to attend conferences, watch plays on-stage use multimedia, and to write for the KS4 Magazine, Phoenix.